Russetted bartlett pear tree

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Bartlett pear tree named ‘Russetted Bartlett’ characterized particularly by producing fruit that has the overall appearance of a typical Bartlett pear, but is somewhat larger, totally russetted at maturity, and ripens later than typical Bartlett fruit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Pyruscommunis, a pear tree, referred to by its varietal name ‘RussettedBartlett“. A-Ri-Rang Asian pears were planted with Bartlett for theproper pollination of the Bartlett variety. One year later appearing inthe top of a Bartlett tree four pears looking like Bartlett but weretotally russetted. The following spring grafts were made to begin theRussetted Bartlett Pear variety.

Discovery

The inventor grows pear trees in Yakima, Wash. The inventor growsBartlett pear trees and has been growing Asian pears since 1989. Somevarieties of Asian pears are russetted. He has grown four realvarieties: Hosui, A-Ri-Rang (Korean), Singo and 20^(th) Century. TheA-Ri-Rang tree is a very large Korean variety that ripens very late,about November 5th or later in Yakima. He presently has about three (3)acres of Bartlett pear trees interspersed with A-Ri-Rang pear trees. TheBartlett pears are naturally cross-pollinated by the A-Ri-Rang variety.He discovered one limb on a cross-pollinated Bartlett pear that had fourpears with the overall appearance and configuration of Bartlett pearsbut were totally russetted. The inventor took limbs from the limbbearing the four russetted Bartlett pears and grafted them. He therebyasexually reproduced trees that consistently bear a new variety ofrussetted Bartlett pears.

Propagation

The inventor took limbs from a limb bearing the four russetted Bartlettpears and grafted them. He thereby asexually reproduces trees thatconsistently bear the new variety of russetted Bartlett pears.

Uniqueness

The fruit, i.e. the pears from disclosed tree, have the overallconfiguration and appearance of a Bartlett pear but are totallyrussetted, a unique copper color over the entire fruit, withdessert-quality flesh. The size is slightly larger than regular Bartlettand has a slightly sub-acid flavor.

Use

The tree and its fruit were observed for a period of time and isbelieved to be particularly useful anywhere pear trees are raised; forexample, in fruit trees orchards, field nurseries or in a landscapesetting, and more particularly in these settings in the PacificNorthwest region of the United States.

Industry Representation

Pyrus communis and related varieties are disclosed in a number of plantpatents including: U.S. Plant Pat. No. 741, Pear Tree; U.S. Plant Pat.No. 5,412, Pear Tree; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,468, Pear Tree; U.S. PlantPat. No. 5,559, Pear Tree (Variety 69); U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,573, PearTree; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,245, Reimer Cultivar Pear Tree; U.S. PlantPat. No. 6,362, Pear Tree Old Home×Farmingdale Variety No. 87; U.S.Plant Pat. No. 6,452 Pear Tree-‘Elliot’; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,897, PearTree-Red Winter; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,730, “Royal Forelle” Pear Tree;U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,325, Pear Tree Named ‘Biehn’; U.S. Plant Pat. No.17,387, Pear Tree Named ‘Prem2P’; and U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,624, PearTree Named ‘Prem1P’.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The disclosed and claimed pear tree is a new distinct variety ofBartlett pear that has the overall configuration and attributes of aBartlett pear, but is totally russetted. The present variety producesmedium to large sized pear-shaped pome. The fruit has a typical goldenbase color with an overlay of russetting over the entire fruit whenripe. The flesh of the fruit is white and sweet when ripe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs depict the color of the flowers, foliageand fruit of my new variety as nearly as is reasonably possible to makethe same in a color illustration of this character.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a bowlful of the fruit of the new and distinctvariety of Bartlett pear tree “Russetted Bartlett”;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a limb of “Russetted Bartlett” showing bloomsand leaves;

FIG. 3 is a photograph of limbs and leaves of the “Russetted Bartlett”;and

FIG. 4 is a photograph of the cross-section of the fruit from the“Russetted Bartlett”.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following is a detailed description of my new variety of RussettedBartlett Pear Tree with color terminology in accordance with The RoyalHorticulture Society (R.H.S.) color chart except where the contextindicates a term having its ordinary dictionary meaning. My new tree hasnot been observed under all growing conditions and variations may occuras a result of different growing conditions. All progeny of my newvariety of Russetted Bartlett Pear tree, insofar as have been observed,have been identical in all the characteristics described below.

Other than as set forth below, as of this time, no other characteristicsof my new Russetted Bartlett Pear Tree have been observed by theinventor which are different from the characteristics common to Bartlettpear trees.

-   Parentage: A true sport limb first observed in 2009 included    four (4) pears having the appearance of a Bartlett pear but being    totally russetted. Using cuttings from that limb mutation additional    trees were budded, creating a true sport limb of Bartlett.-   Locality where grown and observed: Yakima, Wash.-   Tree:    -   -   Size.—Average for the species.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous and hardy under typical climatic conditions            around Yakima, Wash.        -   Tree form.—Considered upright to upright spreading.        -   Tree height.—When measured at the end of the 2014 growing            season, the present variety had a height to about 3.66 to            about 4.27 meters. This growth included to about 1.22 to            1.40 meters of the current season's growth.        -   Tree crown.—Width — Approximately 1.4 meters. Trees of the            present variety are growing in an orchard where spacing            between the adjacent trees is about 1.83 meters, and the            respective rows of trees are approximately 3.66 meters            apart. The trees of the present variety are annually pruned            into a narrow-upright vase training system.        -   Productivity.—Productive.        -   Regularity of bearing.—Regular annual.        -   Trunk diameter.—When measured at a distance of approximately            20 centimeters from the ground level the variety has a trunk            diameter of approximately 11 centimeters.-   Bark:    -   -   Surface texture.—Moderately cracked and roughened, some            broad smooth areas are present.        -   Bark color.—Considered light brown.        -   Bark lenticels.—Numerous and appearing roughened on their            surfaces. Bark lenticels shape: considered oval.        -   Lenticels.—Size approximately 0.4 to about 0.9 millimeters            in width, and from about 0.9 to about 2.5 millimeters in            height. Lenticels color: creamy white.-   Branches:    -   -   Size.—Considered normal in diameter for the species. The            main scaffold branches of the observed tree range in            diameter from about 5 to about 7 centimeters when measured            at the base of the scaffold.        -   Lenticels.—Distinctive. The lenticels seen on the branches            appear to have the same development as that of the trunk,            noted above.        -   Upper branches.—Size — The upper spreader branches range in            size from about 5 to about 6.4 centimeters in diameter at            their bases, while smaller hanger branches vary in thickness            from about 0.79 to about 1.27 centimeters.        -   Surface texture.—Scaffold branches appear smoother than the            trunk surface, but have approximately the same brown color.            (Fan #4, Sheet 164-C).        -   Older branches.—Brown in color and nearly glabrous in            surface texture. (Fan #4, Sheet 201B).        -   One year old shoots and spurs.—Color is considered brownish            in color and having a moderately pubescent surface texture.        -   Current season's shoots.—Color is brown. These current            season's shoots have a moderately pubescent surface texture.        -   Actively growing shoots.—Color is gray-brown. Actively            growing shoots have a highly pubescent surface texture of            medium length. The pubescence appears wooly.        -   Expanding shoot tips and young leaves.—Color is considered            to be green in coloration.        -   Internode length.—When measured on upright vigorous shoots,            this ranges from about 2.5 to 3.0 centimeters between            adjacent nodes. The length between the nodes as seen on            smaller lateral shoots ranges from about 1.5 to 2.0            centimeters.-   Leaves:    -   -   Size.—Generally — Considered medium for the species. The            measurements which follow have been taken from leaves            growing near mid-shoot on vigorously growing current            season's shoots.        -   Leaf length.—About 6.0 to about 8.0 centimeters including            the leaf petiole.        -   Leaf width.—About 3.5 to about 5.0 centimeters.        -   Leaf thickness.—Medium. Considered normal for the species.        -   Surface texture.—Young immature leaves are highly pubescent            on both the upper and lower leaf surfaces. As these leaves            mature however, much of this pubescence is lost.        -   Mature leaf texture.—Very slightly rugose. No glands are            evident on the leaf.        -   Leaf form.—Generally considered variable from broadly            lanceolate to ovate.        -   Leaf apices.—Shape: Acute and at time curled backward from            the upper leaf surface. Most leaves appear somewhat folded            upwards.        -   Leaf surface.—Texture: The leaf surfaces along the mid-vein            are at times slightly wavy.        -   Leaf color.—Mature leaves, the upper leaf surface appears            dark green (Fan #3, Sheet 137-A); and the lower surfaces are            a lighter green in color (Fan #3, Sheet 138-B).        -   Color.—Mid-Vein, the primary mid-vein on the lower leaf            surface is a pale yellow-green (Fan #3, Sheet 145-C).        -   Serrations.—Size — Moderately small teeth.        -   Leaf margins.—Shape — Slightly undulate.        -   Leaf margins.—Generally considered serrate and tipped with            narrow, soft, sharp spines.        -   Leaf petiole.—Size: Considered average and short, and            further having a length of about 1.0 to 1.5 centimeters, and            a thickness of about 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters when measured at            approximately mid-petiole.        -   Petiole base.—Shape: Typically considered wider and at times            slightly flared, and having a thickness of about 1.5 to 3.5            millimeters.        -   Petiole.—Color: Considered yellow-green on younger leaves            (Fan #3, Sheet 144-D) and on older leaves a darker green            shade (Fan #3, Sheet 145-C). Within the petiole groove and            the petiole ridges, the color is increasingly darker (Fan            #3, Sheet 138-B).        -   Petiole.—Surface texture is lightly pubescent.        -   Immature leaves.—Surface texture: Leaves appear to have a            higher degree of pubescence than mature leaves. No glands            are present on the petiole.        -   Leaf stipules.—Generally about 12 to 15 millimeters in            length and about 0.75 to about 1.3 mm in width.        -   Leaf stipules.—Form: Considered linearly lanceolate. The            leaf stipules darken and deteriorate within increasing            senescence.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flower buds.—Size — Generally considered large, plump and            conic in form and are considered hardy under Yakima, Wash.            climatic conditions.        -   Flower buds.—Color is reddish brown.        -   Flower buds.—Surface texture — Considered pubescent            especially apically and over the interior side of the bud            scales.        -   Bloom time.—Generally — Average to slightly early in            relative comparison to other common Barlett pear tree            varieties growing at the same geographic location.        -   Date of full bloom.—Observed at Yakima, Wash. on Mar. 27,            2014 and Mar. 27, 2015.        -   Duration of bloom.—The date and duration of bloom can be            substantially effected by the amount of chilling hours that            occur during a given year, and the geographical location            where the variety is grown.        -   Flower size.—Generally about 28 to about 34 millimeters            wide.        -   Bloom quantity.—Considered abundant.        -   Flowers per node.—As many as 6 can be produced.        -   Petal numbers.—Typically 5, but extra petals can be            observed.        -   Petal form.—Considered variable, but most frequently appears            round to ovate.        -   Petal color.—White (Fan #4, Sheet 155-D) with some pink            shading around the margins.        -   Petal margins.—Shape — Undulate.        -   Petal apices.—Form — Variable and having a somewhat pointed            tip.        -   Flower pedicel.—Size — These are variable from about 25 to            about 30 millimeters in length, and from about 1.0 to about            1.5 millimeters in thickness.        -   Flower pedicel.—Color — Pale green (Fan #3, Sheet 145-C)        -   Flower pedicel.—Surface Texture — Pubescent, and further            having moderately sparse filamentous pubescence.        -   Floral nectaries.—Color — Yellow-brown (Fan #3, Sheet            153-B). The floral nectaries become darker with increasing            senescence.        -   Calyx.—Surface Texture — Slightly pubescent.        -   Calyx.—Color — Pale green (Fan #3, Sheet 145-B).        -   Sepals.—Surface Texture — Pubescent.        -   Sepals.—Size — Relatively small and narrow in form.        -   Sepals.—Color — Green-yellow (Fan #3, Sheet 151-B).        -   Anthers.—Size — Considered average for the species.        -   Anthers.—Color — Considered pale rose. This color appears            both ventrally and dorsally.        -   Pollen production.—Considered abundant in quantity.        -   Pollen.—Color — yellow.        -   Stamens.—Color — White (Fan #4, Sheet 155-D) to pink about 4            to about 6 millimeters in length.        -   Pistil.—Form — The pistil of the present variety has five            styles separated to the ovary.        -   Pistil.—Length — Somewhat variable from about 6 to 7            millimeters.        -   Pistil.—Surface Texture — Glabrous.        -   Pistil.—Color — Yellow-green (Fan #1, Sheet 1-D).-   Fruit:    -   -   Maturity when described.—The fruit of the present variety of            Bartlett pear tree is described at full commercial maturity            hereinafter.        -   Date of harvest.—In 2013, the date of harvest was            September 6. The date of harvest in 2014 was September 6.            The date of harvesting is about September 1^(st). The date            of harvesting, noted above, are those that were observed at            Yakima, Wash.        -   Fruit size.—Generally — The fruit diameter was about 30 to            about 35 millimeters adjacent the stem and about 70 to about            80 millimeters around the base; the fruit had a height of            about 100 to about 111 millimeters.        -   Fruit form.—Generally — Slightly variable classic pear shape            when viewed in its lateral aspect.        -   Fruit symmetry.—Somewhat variable, from fully symmetrical to            slightly asymmetrical or considered lopsided.        -   Fruit stem.—Size — The fruit stem has a length dimension of            about 28 to about 32 millimeters; and a thickness dimension            of about 2 to about 3 millimeters.        -   Fruit stem.—Shape — Typically, considered slightly curved.        -   Fruit stem.—Color — Light green (Fan #3, Sheet 144-B).        -   Fruit stem.—Surface Texture — Moderately pubescent.        -   Fruit lenticels.—Color — Light tan and being slightly raised            and oval in form on the fruit stem surface (Fan #4, Sheet            161-A).        -   Stem cavity.—Shape — Considered uniform and acute.        -   Stem cavity.—Size — Considered moderate. The width of the            stem cavity ranges from about 8 to about 10 millimeters when            measured across the shoulders of the fruit. The depth of the            stem cavity is variable from about 11 to about 15            millimeters.        -   Fruit basin.—Shape — Globose in form; relatively wide; and            of average depth. The fruit basin sides are sloping and have            what appears to be a smooth surface.        -   Calyx.—Form — The calyx opening is closed. Still further,            the calyx tube is considered long and funnel shaped.            Additionally, stamen remnants are often present in the calyx            tube and are typically located in a marginal position.        -   Core lines.—Generally — These are distinct and clasping.        -   Fruit core.—Position — Distant and considered relatively far            from the fruit stem.        -   Fruit core.—Size — Considered average in relation to the            overall size of the fruit.        -   Fruit carpels.—Generally — 5 carpels are present and are            located within the fruit core.        -   Fruit carpels.—Shape — star shaped.        -   Fruit carpel cells.—Form — Generally speaking, these are            closed in form although at times some open cells can be            present.        -   Fruit carpels.—Surface Texture — The inner surface of the            carpel wall is considered glabrous.        -   Seeds.—Numbers — Variable from 2 to as many as 10.        -   Seeds.—Size — Considered plump, and having a length of about            8.5 to about 10.0 millimeters; and a width from about 3.5 to            about 4.0 millimeters.        -   Seeds.—Thickness — About 3 millimeters.        -   Seed apex.—Form — Acute.        -   Seeds.—Color — Dark Brown at full maturity (Fan #4, Sheet            175-A). The seeds color at full commercial maturity is a            lighter tan-brown color (Fan #4, Sheet 164-B).        -   Fruit skin.—Thickness — Considered average.        -   Fruit skin.—Surface texture — Glabrous. The skin appears to            tightly adhere to the underlying fruit flesh.        -   Fruit skin.—Flavor — Considered mild to neutral.        -   Fruit skin.—Color — Predominately yellow-orange (Fan #1,            Sheet 22-A) with russetting that can vary in hue and            intensity over the entire surface of the fruit at full            commercial maturity.        -   Fruit skin.—Lenticels — Few. These are small and relatively            inconspicuous.        -   Fruit skin lenticel color.—Very pale yellow (Fan #1, Sheet            1-D).        -   Fruit flesh.—Color — White with a very slight cream-yellow            tint (Fan #1, Sheet 11-D).        -   Fruit flesh.—Texture — Crisp and considered very juicy.        -   Stone cells.—Generally — Present, and average in number. The            stone cells are located in the vicinity of the core area.        -   Ripening.—Considered even. The fruit holds well on the tree.        -   Fruit flavor.—Considered sweet, refreshing and mild,            slightly sub-acid flavor and having a very good commercial            quality.        -   Aroma.—Considered pleasant, and slight.        -   Resistance to insects and diseases.—No particular            susceptibility where noted. The present variety has not been            intentionally tested to expose or detect any            susceptibilities or resistance to any known plant and/or            other fruit tree diseases.

1. What is claimed is a new and distinct variety of bartlett pear treenamed “Russetted Bartlett” substantially as herein shown and described,particularly characterized over known Bartlett pear trees by producingfruit that has the overall appearance of a typical Bartlett Pear, but istotally russetted at maturity. The russetted color is an attractivecopper finish at full maturity and its ripening at about September6^(th) in Yakima, Wash. or about a week later as compared to regularBartlett. Russetted Bartlett is characterized by ability to be stored at32° F. for approximately eight months while retaining its quality.Originator believes Russetted Bartlett runs slightly larger than regularBartlett. The fruit has an appealing slightly sub-acid flavor.